Comments on: Column: OBA’s Smith On Immigration Reform

By: saud

saud — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 16:04:58 +0000

You can’t address the fact that you and your government are bigots?
I don’t listen to bigots like you, you have no credibility. Your hatred for your fellow Bermudians is disgusting. You’re dismissed.

By: Manyana

Manyana — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 00:46:50 +0000

Did you see the full video before you make this comment?

By: Sandgrownan

Sandgrownan — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 19:19:16 +0000

Of course, avoid the question.

By: Sandgrownan

Sandgrownan — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 19:18:38 +0000

How is all that winning working out for Bermuda?

By: Beautiful day today

Beautiful day today — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 18:28:28 +0000

Don’t shoot the messenger or you’ll miss the point here (okay, that video was very ill advised); there is no doubt that Mr Smith is a good person and puts Bermuda first and he raises several very valid points.

It IS almost too late, there IS a risk that this is lip service, there IS a serious need for more people here to contribute to the economy, there IS a whole segment of the population comprised of all income brackets and backgrounds that should be given some rights after so long in Bermuda.

If we don’t have enough people and we have space and opportunity, then why would we not put our country above ourselves and allow pathways to status. This should be well thought out and controlled (I am protectionist towards my heritage) but what harm can it truly do since all of us have been the beneficiary of this at some point in our family history? We all have friends who have been here for many, many years, have children who were born and raised here, who have represented Bermuda in team sports, volunteered with Bermuda charities and still have no rights whatsoever. There is something fundamentally wrong with that. Jobs? They are already in the jobs where there are not enough Bermudians with the correct skills to do the job. Often, they are the ones training Bermudians, passing on their experience and expertise.

We ALL need to be open minded and inclusive on this topic and it is certainly greater than politics. It is about our future as a country.

By: Yea ok

Yea ok — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 13:51:12 +0000

Ben is.wasting his time in the walking dead party. Might as well stay and get the senator pay.

By: Vortex

Vortex — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 03:46:18 +0000

Ben Smith is right. The immigration policy in Bermuda is incredibly archaic.

And what’s worse is we have Jason Hayward as the front man, the least forward looking, most union obsessed individual in government.

I can tell you 100% that IB doesn’t trust him, and they are what can rescue this, he needs to go.

By: In Support of Ben Smith

In Support of Ben Smith — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 03:02:51 +0000

You are way off base on Ben Smith. He is fair, objective and honest. He is Bermudian and has coached many of children as the National Swim Coach. He cares deeply about our island and is 100% correct on the immigration issue. Bermuda desperately needs to liberalize our policies with respect to welcoming in more people. We simply are shrinking in population.
Birth rate is declining. Seniors are emigrating. Younger, college educated are remaining overseas. Locals are leaving in floods to the UK and claiming “benefits” like unemployment benefits and childcare benefits etc. All are a drag on our population and why we have a shrinking population.
On the issue of our Premier’s Jamaican heritage, why not call out the PLP for the blatant hypocrisy of shunning foreigners and treating them with such disdain? Give me a big fat break. Grow up Bermuda and join the real world. Foreigners are a necessity period and always have been for Bermuda.

By: JAWS

JAWS — Sat, 06 Feb 2021 00:08:19 +0000

Sorry my friend but Smith is not the spokesman for this. That video that he scripted with Leah about Burts Jamaican heritage cost the OBA many votes. We can agree that we have 2 Bermudas. You must understand how the other thinks. You hating the PLP with arrogance every day on here will never win votes. Your messages get lost in words and the other Bermuda as you see will refuse to listen. 30 – 6 must teach you something.

Good night

By: Eyes wide open

Eyes wide open — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 23:52:42 +0000

Shouldn’t you be busy trying to find the ubpoba more surrogates/black voters to help “YOU”,,,,,,,,,, win since the 6 seats you have are closer to NIL? Forget that question you will never win again! LMAO

By: saud

saud — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 22:23:21 +0000

“. It’s like the story with the pot calling the kettle black.”

Indeed…while the PLP grovels at the feet of our British overlords, begging them to allow legal discrimination against some Bermudians.

Your credibility is nil.

By: sandgrownan

sandgrownan — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 21:04:03 +0000

*sigh*

Ignore the spokesman, look at the core tenants of the message:

- Immigration reform now or fall off a fiscal cliff – so says the Minister and The Finance Minister
- This has been argued for over 15 years, the math backs it up
- The Immigration Reform Committee has taken two years to tackle the “low hanging fruit”

It’s yet more PLP failure.

By: Please go away Smith

Please go away Smith — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 20:01:25 +0000

Opposition Leader Cole Simons as a OBA supporter Mr. Smith is the last person that should speak about this topic. For he and Ms. Leah Scott spoke nasty about Premier David Burt’s commitment to Bermudians because of his mother’s Jamaican heritage. That was nasty and on called for.

How can you expect to attract, which is no secret black voters to trust us and return when we continue to follow the same plan.

This cost us votes and if can’t see that, we will never be Government again. Please understand that we have to attract voters to return. This gentleman should stay far away from this topic. It’s like the story with the pot calling the kettle black.